Global Beef Industry Outlook ‘Mixed’ Says Report

Apr 18, 2013

Rabobank Releases Its Beef Industry Q1 2013 Report

Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory released its global beef industry Q1 2013 report. The report says the outlook is mixed, but will likely remain constrained. The report also says the horsemeat scandal failed to impact short-term EU demand.

Rabobank’s global beef industry outlook is deemed to be mixed, noting that U.S. beef prices were a disappointment in Q1, which can partially be attributed to a strong U.S. dollar and trade disputes with Russia - which resulted in a 12% decline in exports.

Coupled with a decline in exports, beef sales have also been weak - noting that levels of disposable income. In addition to the U.S., Rabobank’s beef outlooks also looks at Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. In Latin America (Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) are expected to deliver reasonable margins. In Australia and New Zealand, prices have declined due to poor weather conditions, which has led to increased throughput at the producer level. In conclusion, as disposable income slows and threats of inflation - especially in North America and Europe, create additional pressures for beef companies to pass on cattle prices onto the consumer.

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.